Business briefs
SCHOOLS CEO EARNS CREDENTIALS: Youngstown City School District CEO Justin Jennings has earned his national superintendent certification through the American Association of School Administrators.
The certification qualifies Jennings to serve as a school district superintendent throughout the United States.
AASA offers a curriculum that focuses on transformational leadership, effective instructional leadership and continuous school improvement; understanding and ensuring equity; navigating community, state and national politics; the impact of economic pressures and budgeting; and other areas.
AKRON CHILDREN’S RECOGNIZED: Akron Children’s Hospital has been named to Forbes magazine’s Best Employers for Diversity 2020 list. The hospital was listed as 172 out of 500 national organizations recognized for its efforts to develop a diverse workforce.
Working with market research firm Statista, Forbes surveyed employees on their perceptions of their employer’s workforce diversity and inclusion, asking questions about age, gender equality, ethnicity, disability and LGBTQ+. The survey encompassed organizations employing at least 1,000 people from 24 industries, including utilities, insurance, automotive, education and health care.
HONDA DEALER MARKS ANNIVERSARY: Shenango Honda is marking a major milestone this month with its 40-year anniversary. Located on East State Street in Hermitage, Pa., the dealership opened its doors in 1980.
Owner and President John Apostolakis attributes the success to the Honda brand, work ethic and staying true to his beliefs, which includes community service. In 2019, Shenango Honda collected 132 pounds of food for the Community Food Warehouse of Mercer County.
STEM CAMP AVAILABLE: For the second year, Rayen Early College Middle School will offer a summer STEM camp for scholars by the National Inventors Hall of Fame.
It will be entirely funded by Nordson, one of the sponsors of the National Inventors Hall of Fame’s Camp Invention.
The funding will allow 36 campers to attend Camp Invention at the school this summer. Evaluations of the camp’s curriculum has shown short and long-term improvements in creativity, problem solving skills, collaboration and interest in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
People on the Move
YBI ANNOUNCES BOARD ADDITIONS: The Youngstown Business Incubator has added Kenneth Frank, CEO of Turning Technologies, and Dr. Brien Smith, provost at Youngstown State University, to its board of directors.
Frank joined Turning Technologies in July 2019 as the new CEO. Turning Technologies creates interactive experiences for its users by way of its software, TurningPoint, which allows users to enhance learning, measure sentiment and engage their audience.
Smith serves as the newest provost of YSU, a role that he started in June 2019. As provost he oversees six academic colleges, the graduate school, honors college, the Office of International Programs, the Office of Assessment and Maag Library.
MERIDIAN ADDS SPECIALIST: Meridian HealthCare has brought on Dr. Michael Cafaro, a chiropractic specialist, to its health care team.
Cafaro, who has more than 16 years treating individuals with chronic pain and musculoskeletal system issues, had a private practice in Mineral Ridge before joining Meridian.
The addition of Cafaro will allow Meridian to expand services for their patients. Chiropractic care can benefit patients struggling with a mental health or addiction issue by helping to decrease cravings for drugs or alcohol, decrease depression and anxiety, improve mental performance, lower cortisol levels and provide another option to treat chronic pain.
HOME SAVINGS BRINGS ON DEVELOPMENT OFFICER: Lee Fields has joined Home Savings Bank, Youngstown, as vice president, community development officer, serving the Youngstown, Akron and Cleveland markets.
In his new role, Fields will work to promote the bank’s community development initiatives by identifying lending and other business development opportunities while focusing on aspects of the banks CRA program within the communities it serves.
He previously worked as vice president, community development manager for a community bank in Lakewood.
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Business briefs
CBD STORE HOSTING PET ADOPTION EVENT: Tri-Healthy CBD at the Southern Park Mall is partnering with Every Dog Matters in Youngstown for an adopt a dog event noon to 5 p.m. Saturday at the store. Four dogs will be available for adoption. Text or call 844-994-3676 for more information.
DOMINION FOUNDATION OFFERING FREE SEEDLINGS: The Dominion Energy Charitable Foundation, through its Project Plant It!, is offering free seedlings to local students. The program aims to help students understand the important role trees play in the ecosystem.
The seedlings will be shipped to participants in time for Arbor Day plantings on April 24.
For the first time, the program includes a science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) lesson plan contest, designed to showcase educators who are developing creative STEM learning tools to teach students about the science of trees.
Educators are invited to submit an original, creative STEM-based lesson plan about trees that will be judged for inclusion in the Project Plant It! Educator’s Guide in 2021. To be eligible, lesson plans must focus on STEM aspects of trees and their benefits to the environment. The contest entry deadline is March 27. More details about rules, criteria and prizes for the contest can be found at projectplantit.com.
LAW FIRM PUBLISHES REPORT: Harrington, Hoppe & Mitchell, Ltd., a regional law firm, recently published its 2019 Community Involvement Report, an online summary of its support for more than 60 local organizations during the year.
The report aims to inform clients, community partners, referral sources and potential clients about HHM’s commitment to community service. The report also includes lawyers’ recent appointments to boards or committees of community and professional organizations. It can be accessed at www.hhmlaw.com.
YBI TO HOST WORKSHOP: The Youngstown Business Incubator is hosting a four week “Capital Readiness Workshop Series” to help startups get ready to raise capital.
The four-week series is designed to help founders develop the critical components necessary to apply to one of northeast Ohio’s various accelerators or pre-seed funders. All sessions are 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday at YBI’s headquarters in Youngstown.
The sessions are Feb. 7, course introduction, value proposition, market sizing, and introduction to pitch strategy; Feb. 21, how to draft a go-to-market strategy, pricing considerations and sales funnels; March 6, introduction to financial modeling, metrics and financial strategy and sample pitches; and March 20, participants pitch their startup to a panel of entrepreneurs and investors for feedback and guidance.
The series is free, but space is limited. An application is required. Contact Gianna Serra, client services manager for YBI at gserra@ybi.org or 330-746-5003 for more information.
MARONITE CENTER MAKEOVER COMPLETE: Blue Wolf Events, a banquet center and catering service, is putting the finishing touches on the renovation of its 12,000-square-foot facility at 1555 S. Meridian Road, Youngstown.
Improvements include new floors, wall modifications and the installation of contemporary art and decor. A new outdoor patio that should be done by spring is also part of the $60,000 project.